“We play Hearts next week and I need to dig out some fight and some attitude. If we play like that, Hearts will beat us.

“I need more from the senior players. There’s not enough fight.

“The situation is concerning. Let’s not beat about the bush, it’s going to take a great effort to turn it around.

“It hurts like hell – I’m fed up having wretched weekends.

“But we have Duncan Watmore, Sam Stanton and Jason Cummings. They are all young lads but they’re willing to have a go and try to make things happen. At least I have that to cling on to.”

Saints got off to a perfect start. John McGinn launched a high ball orward after 13 seconds and Steven Thompson was always going to beat Michael Nelson to it.

His cushioned header down was perfect for the onrushing McLean who showed wonderful composure to drill a sweet, left-foot half-volley from 16 yards low into the net.

Given Hibs’ recent form, it wasn’t surprising to see them concede a goal but to do so within the first minute did take everyone aback. It went from bad to worse for them as Danny Lennon’s team made it 2-0 in the 14th minute.

Jordon Forster lost possession and McLean took control. McGowan made a lovely run off him into a space and the weight of pass was perfect into the ex-Celtic man’s stride, just inside the box.

He struck a powerful left-foot shot across Ben Williams and low into the bottom left-hand corner.

St Mirren had the running of the middle of the park and Hibs couldn’t cope with John McGinn and McLean.

Butcher’s side were, however, thrown a lifeline on the half-hour when Goodwin was sent off.

He caught Kevin Thomson late with a flick of the boot. There didn’t seem to be much in it but Thomson wriggled around the deck in agony. That said, Goodwin shouldn’t have allowed referee Kevin Clancy the option of producing his red card.

The home fans gave Thomson pelters for the rest of the game with chants of “cheat” every time he touched the ball.

Christopher Dilo made his first save in the 36th minute when he stopped a long-range effort from Sam Stanton.

Stanton then carved out a great opening for himself but blasted over from just eight yards.

Butcher tried to inspire his team after the break but they never really looked like scoring. The didn’t have the imagination or the players capable of hurting the Buddies.

Sub Watmore offered creativity but there just wasn’t enough from too many of his team-mates. When Saints were under threat, they always found McGinn willing to win the ball back and take it for a run. Once again, he was the pick of the bunch.

Darren McGregor was also rock solid at the back and the whole team coped well with the change of shape and tactics following the dismissal of Goodwin.

Saints would be a loss to the top flight if they were to do down but they should be fine.

Boss Lennon said: “It was a monumental effort by the players and I’m very proud of them.”

Previous Articles

THE St Mirren manager faces a huge afternoon when he welcomes his first club to Paisley this weekend and it could be a pivotal 90 minutes in the nerve-shredding battle to avoid the relegation play-off spot.